Shell hits fleeing civilians, 5 killed

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 August 2006, 09:15 GMT]Five Muslim refugees who were fleeing the fighting in Muttur were killed when a shell fell near them Friday around 2:00 p.m. at 64th mile post, Pachchanoor along the A 15 Main Road, civilian sources said. Hundreds of people, with white flags, were lined up at the 64th mile post when the shell fell near them. 2000 Muslim civilians are already on their way towards Kantalai, civil sources said. More than 30 civilians in Muttur area have been killed during the past 3 days.

Meawnhile, the Sri lanka Mulsim Congress (SLMC) hierachy met Friday monring at the residence of Rauff Hakeem and contacted SL President Mahinda Rajapakse urging him to immediatly air-drop food and water to the fleeing civilians, party member Hassan Ali said.

The SLMC urged the Norwegian facilitators to exert international pressure to cease the hostilities in Muttur area.